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October 17, 2012 Perspectives Quirky Quartzsite's Contributed by Violet Kiss wanted to write fun pieces. Somehow informing readers on checking rumors seemed to "fi ll the air" at times, some- times more often than not. Thank you for the complements from those who've come up and said they appre- ciate the evidence and other investiga- tive reports I've given. They said it was the only way they got real information. Well, good news. It appears we've been getting the start of real transparency in Town Hall (YAY) and for that we are all thankful. So, this week: I got to interview Margaret and El- Elmer and Margaret London When I started "Perspectives" I mer London. Margaret (nee: Prath- er) was born in Wenatchee and Elmer in Lyman, Washington, and let's just say "a ways back". The two met at Bell- ingham High School in their se- nior year, started dating in Janu- ary and gradu- ated summer of 1941. There were a lot of parties that summer, given most young men got drafted. A little over a year later, Elmer proposes to Margaret and they marry October 16, 1942 in Seattle. Only married 2 weeks, Elmer's drafted www.DesertMessenger.com fl ying, bomb testing and model crews and then to Tucson where they tested and fl ew B-17s and B-24s. Elmer at this time was a "nose gunner". By this time, it's early 1944; Elmer gunnery school in Laredo where Margaret was fi nal- ly able to stay for awhile. More gunnery school in Pocatello along with night OPINION was in one of the 72 planes that fl ew to Sudbury (Suffolk) England for his last 8 months of service. 71 made it. He was on 25 bombing missions and on the last one, a plane right in front of theirs was hit, blew up and pieces of the wreckage shot directly into their plane. Luckily instead of a crash land- ing, they made a very shaky, but safe, landing. Fortunately there was an 11- man crew getting Elmer "bumped" by a superior on D-Day. Late November 1944, Elmer lands on U.S. soil to go back home and start his family life with Margaret waiting in Wash- ington. Now come the 4 into the Army Air Corps. His journey begins in St. Petersburg, Florida for ba- sic training. Elmer had never been out- side of Washington or the Oregon Coast. Would you believe they stayed in hotels for basic? Not bad. Elmer goes onto Bi- loxi for aircraft mechanics, then aerial "Lara's Place" DAILY SPECIALS 1099 W. M1099 W. Main Street, Quartzsite, AZ www.Q-towncafe.com American Home Style Food OPEN 7 am - 8 pm DAILY Call for Take-out (928) 927-8600 665 W. Tyson, Quartzsite, Arizona • 928-927-5808 and Margaret went on to hurry up and pop out Carolyn. Maybe it worked; she was born 2 days later. They had 5 grandchildren, losing one in 2004, by motorcycle accident, and also have 5 great-grandchildren (all Carolyn's). Let's get to a story, or two. Every year Margaret would take her two girls, Carolyn and Marrell, on a Se- SEE PERSPECTIVES PAGE 20 kids: Steve 1946, Carolyn (Guth- rie) 1947, Leslie 1949, and Mar- rell 1951. We all know Carolyn so I've got to tell you about a July 4th rough boat- ing trip Elmer Page 17 After a week like yours, you need a church like ours! Changing Hearts.... Changing Lives... Through Worshiping God and Serving Others Join us for Delicious Home-style Breakfasts Tuesday & Thursday MORNINGS 7:30AM-9:30AM Still only $3 donation EVERYONE IS WELCOME! • Sunday: Christian Education 9am Worship 10:30am Evening Worship 7pm For free ride to Church call (928) 927-5808 • Wednesday: Bible Study 7pm Fire Station Church Starting Tues. Nov. 6